Detecting and resolving multicast traffic performance issues

Abstract

The subject disclosure relates to systems and methods for improving multicast traffic flows in a computer network. In some aspects, a method of the technology includes steps for receiving multicast traffic statistics from each of a plurality of switches in a computer network, aggregating the multicast traffic statistics into a time-series database, and identifying a low-performing multicast flow based on the time-series database. In some aspects, the method can include steps for automatically reconfiguring the computer network to improve the low-performing multicast flow. Systems and machine readable media are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving, at a network controller, multicast traffic statistics from each of a plurality of switches in a computer network; 
 aggregating, by the network controller, the multicast traffic statistics into a time-series; 
 automatically identifying, by the network controller, a low-performing multicast flow, based on the time-series, wherein the low-performing multicast flow is associated with a source switch; and 
 reconfiguring the computer network to improve the low-performing multicast flow, the reconfiguring including:
 automatically pruning one or more links associated with the low-performing multicast flow; 
 first determining, by the network controller, if a multicast root corresponding with the low-performing multicast flow can be transferred to a destination switch in the computer network; 
 reconfiguring the source switch and the destination switch to transfer the multicast root to the destination switch; 
 
 second determining if one or more links associated with the low-performing multicast flow can be pruned based on the availability of alternate links to absorb the additional traffic of the multicast flow; and 
 the automatically pruning is in response to at least a positive result of the second determining. 
 
     
     
       2. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein reconfiguring the source switch and the destination switch further comprises:
 providing an alert indicating a recommended network configuration to improve the low-performing multicast flow; and 
 receiving a response indicating either an approval or rejection of the recommended network configuration. 
 
     
     
       3. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein reconfiguring the computer network further comprises:
 automatically pruning a multicast tree associated with the low-performing multicast flow. 
 
     
     
       4. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the low-performing multicast flow further comprises computing a total packet throughput for one or more port pairs. 
     
     
       5. A network controller for improving multicast traffic flows, comprising:
 one or more processors; and 
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored therein, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 receive multicast traffic statistics from each of a plurality of switches in a computer network; 
 aggregate the multicast traffic statistics into a time-series; 
 automatically identify a low-performing multicast flow, based on the time-series, wherein the low-performing multicast flow is associated with a source switch; and 
 reconfigure the computer network to improve the low-performing multicast flow, the reconfigure including:
 automatically pruning one or more links associated with the low-performing multicast flow; 
 first determine if a multicast root corresponding with the low-performing multicast flow can be transferred to a destination switch in the computer network; 
 reconfigure the source switch and the destination switch to transfer the multicast root to the destination switch; 
 
 second determine if one or more links associated with the low-performing multicast flow can be pruned based on the availability of alternate links to absorb the additional traffic of the multicast flow; and 
 the automatically prune is in response to at least a positive result of the second determine. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The network controller of  claim 5 , comprising further instructions which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 provide an alert indicating a recommended network configuration to improve the low-performing multicast flow; and 
 receive a response indicating either an approval or rejection of the recommended network configuration. 
 
     
     
       7. The network controller of  claim 5 , comprising further instructions which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 automatically prune one or more links associated with the low-performing multicast flow. 
 
     
     
       8. The network controller of  claim 5 , wherein identify the low-performing multicast flow further comprises compute a total packet throughput for one or more port pairs. 
     
     
       9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions stored therein, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receive multicast traffic statistics from each of a plurality of switches in a computer network; 
 aggregate the multicast traffic statistics into a time-series; 
 automatically identify a low-performing multicast flow, based on the time-series, wherein the low-performing multicast flow is associated with a source switch; and 
 reconfigure the computer network to improve the low-performing multicast flow, the reconfigure including:
 automatically pruning one or more links associated with the low-performing multicast flow; 
 first determine if a multicast root corresponding with the low-performing multicast flow can be transferred to a destination switch in the computer network; 
 reconfigure the source switch and the destination switch to transfer the multicast root to the destination switch; 
 
 second determine if one or more links associated with the low-performing multicast flow can be pruned based on the availability of alternate links to absorb the additional traffic of the multicast flow; and 
 the automatically prune is in response to at least a positive result of the second determine. 
 
     
     
       10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , comprising further instructions which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 provide an alert indicating a recommended network configuration to improve the low-performing multicast flow; and 
 receive a response indicating either an approval or rejection of the recommended network configuration. 
 
     
     
       11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , comprising further instructions which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 automatically prune a multicast tree associated with the low-performing multicast flow. 
 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein identify the low-performing multicast flow further comprises compute a total packet throughput for one or more port pairs.